<center>{{quote|You would have done better to come with us after all, poor old Fredegar!|[[Peregrin Took]]<ref>{{RK|Havens}}</ref>}}</center>

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<center>{{quote|You would have done better to come with us after all, poor old Fredegar!|[[Peregrin Took]]<ref name="Havens">{{RK|Havens}}</ref>}}</center>

'''Fredegar "Fatty" Bolger''' was a Hobbit of [[the Shire]]. He was one of the "[[Conspirators]]", a small group of [[Hobbits]] who knew that [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] had the [[The One Ring|Ring]].

'''Fredegar "Fatty" Bolger''' was a Hobbit of [[the Shire]]. He was one of the "[[Conspirators]]", a small group of [[Hobbits]] who knew that [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] had the [[The One Ring|Ring]].

==Life==

==Life==

===Ancestry===

===Ancestry===

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Fatty was a descendant of [[Hildibrand Took]] ([[Third Age|T.A.]] 2849 - 2934), one of the many sons of the [[Gerontius Took|Old Took]]. He was the son of [[Odovacar Bolger]] and [[Rosamunda Took]]. Fatty was born in 2980 and his family was from Budgeford in Bridgefiels of the Eastfarthing. He also had a younger sister, [[Estella Brandybuck|Estella Bolger]] (2985 - ?), who would eventually marry [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]].

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Fatty was a descendant of [[Hildibrand Took]] ([[Third Age|T.A.]] 2849 - 2934), one of the many sons of the [[Gerontius Took|Old Took]].<ref>{{App|Took}}</ref> He was the son of [[Odovacar Bolger]] and [[Rosamunda Took]]. Fatty was born in 2980 and his family was from [[Budgeford]] in [[Bridgefields]] of the [[Eastfarthing]]. He also had a younger sister, [[Estella Brandybuck|Estella Bolger]] (2985 - ?), who would eventually marry [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]].

===Conspiracy===

===Conspiracy===

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The Original plan of the Conspirators was that when [[Frodo Baggins]], [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]], [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] left Frodo's new home in [[Crickhollow]], Fredegar (who had never left the Shire) was to stay behind to deal with any "inquisitive folk" and to keep up the pretense that Frodo was still living there by wearing Frodo's clothes and keeping about the place. After learning the identity of the Black Riders, Fatty was invited to flee with the others into the [[Old Forest]]. He claimed to be too terrified of the stories of the Forest and instead voluntarily remained behind as a decoy for the Nazgul and to tell the absent Gandalf of events should he ever show up. Though Merry tried to persuade Fatty that the Old Forest would be nothing compared to meeting the Ringwraiths, Fatty was adamant, so the other Hobbits went into the Forest.

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The original plan of the Conspirators was that when [[Frodo Baggins]], [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]], [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] left Frodo's new home in [[Crickhollow]], Fredegar (who had never left the Shire) was to stay behind to deal with any "inquisitive folk" and to keep up the pretense that Frodo was still living there by wearing Frodo's clothes and keeping about the place. After learning about the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]], Fatty was invited to flee with the others into the [[Old Forest]]. He claimed to be too terrified of the stories of the Forest and instead voluntarily remained behind as a decoy for the Nazgûl and to tell the absent [[Gandalf]] of events should he ever show up. Though Merry tried to persuade Fatty that the Old Forest would be nothing compared to meeting the Ringwraiths, Fatty was adamant, so the other Hobbits went into the Forest.<ref>{{FR|I5}}</ref>

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The Ringwraiths did eventually come in the night to Crickhollow for Frodo and the Ring, but Fatty, though frightened nearly witless, escaped to raise the alarm of Buckland. This caused the Nazgul to flee, but they had learned that the Ring was gone.

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The Ringwraiths did eventually come in the night to Crickhollow for Frodo and [[the One Ring|the Ring]], but Fatty, though frightened nearly witless, escaped to raise the alarm of [[Buckland]]. This caused the Nazgûl to flee, but they had learned that the Ring was gone.<ref>{{FR|I11}}</ref>

===Resistance===

===Resistance===

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During [[Saruman]]'s rule of [[the Shire]], Fatty led a group of partisans fighting against the Ruffians around the hills of [[Scary]] before eventually being captured. He was imprisoned in the [[Lockholes]] and starved, (and could no longer be called "Fatty") but rescued in the Scouring of the Shire.

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During [[Saruman]]'s rule of [[the Shire]], Fatty led a group of partisans fighting against the [[Ruffians]] around the hills of [[Scary]] before eventually being captured. He was imprisoned in the [[Lockholes]] and starved, (and could no longer be called "Fatty") but was rescued after the victory of the [[Battle of Bywater]].<ref name="Havens"/>

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

The name contains ''ferdi'' "peace" and ''gar'' "spear"<ref>[[An Introduction to Elvish]], "Giving of Names"</ref>

The name contains ''ferdi'' "peace" and ''gar'' "spear"<ref>[[An Introduction to Elvish]], "Giving of Names"</ref>

Conspiracy

The original plan of the Conspirators was that when Frodo Baggins, Sam, Merry and Pippin left Frodo's new home in Crickhollow, Fredegar (who had never left the Shire) was to stay behind to deal with any "inquisitive folk" and to keep up the pretense that Frodo was still living there by wearing Frodo's clothes and keeping about the place. After learning about the Black Riders, Fatty was invited to flee with the others into the Old Forest. He claimed to be too terrified of the stories of the Forest and instead voluntarily remained behind as a decoy for the Nazgûl and to tell the absent Gandalf of events should he ever show up. Though Merry tried to persuade Fatty that the Old Forest would be nothing compared to meeting the Ringwraiths, Fatty was adamant, so the other Hobbits went into the Forest.[3]

The Ringwraiths did eventually come in the night to Crickhollow for Frodo and the Ring, but Fatty, though frightened nearly witless, escaped to raise the alarm of Buckland. This caused the Nazgûl to flee, but they had learned that the Ring was gone.[4]

Resistance

During Saruman's rule of the Shire, Fatty led a group of partisans fighting against the Ruffians around the hills of Scary before eventually being captured. He was imprisoned in the Lockholes and starved, (and could no longer be called "Fatty") but was rescued after the victory of the Battle of Bywater.[1]

Etymology

Other versions of the Legendarium

In The Return of the Shadow, Fatty Bolger is said to have played a much larger role, but this was later abandoned. His role survives as a minor anomaly in the published The Lord of the Rings - before the Hobbits go into the Old Forest, they have five ponies prepared - but only take four. Fatty was originally supposed to go with them.